Why this course?

  • Practical Experience

    Learn risk assessment from someone with years of practical experience in industry.

  • Understand the Whole Process

    Anyone can learn the fundamentals of machinery risk assessment by doing some reading. In this course, you will learn the whole process, including the important linkage to functional safety.

  • Get the Tools

    Students in this course have access to tecnical papers, risk assessment tools, and much more. Be ready to get the job done right, the first time.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Module 1 - Getting Started

  • 2

    Module 2 - The Basics: What is Risk?

    • Module 1 & 2 Video Lesson - What is Risk?

    • What is RISK?

    • Self assessment: Are you a risk taker?

    • Risk Factors

    • Consequence or Severity

    • Probability or Likelihood

    • Introducing Risk Scoring Systems

    • Module 2 Unit Test: The Basics
  • 3

    Module 3 - Hazard Identification & Severity Analysis

    • Module 3 Video Lesson - Hazard Identification and Severity Analysis

    • What is "Safety"?

    • Hazard Identification

    • Finding All the Hazards: How do we know we are done?

    • ISO 12100-2010 Annex B

    • Severity Analysis

    • Hazardous Events & Situations

    • Assignment #1 - Hazard Identification

    • The Chinese Press

    • Assignment #1 Answers

    • Assignment #2 - Robotic Assembly Cell Case Study

    • Assignment #2 Case Study

    • Weekly Lesson Quality Survey

    • Module 3 Risk Assessment Case Study Solution
  • 4

    Module 4 - Likelihood of Injury - How likely will a person be hurt?

    • Module 4 Video Lesson - Likelihood of Injury

    • Task Identification

    • Creating Task-Hazard Lists

    • Intended Use and Foreseeable Misuse

    • Understanding Probability

    • Module 4 Self Assessment Quiz

    • RA101-M4 Slides

    • Weekly Lesson Quality Survey
  • 5

    Module 5 - Risk Scoring Tools

    • Module 5 - Risk Scoring Tools

    • Quantitative, Qualitative, and Semi-quantitative tools

    • Qualitative scoring tools: Decision Trees

    • Qualitative scoring tools: Risk Matrices

    • Semi-Quantitative Scoring Tools: Risk Matrices with Algorithms

    • Semi-Quantative Scoring Tools: Algorithms without matrices

    • Assignment #3 - Using a risk assessment tool.

    • Risk Assessment Worksheets

    • Risk Estimation - Chris Steel (1990)

    • Leuze "HaRMONY" whitepaper

    • RA101-M5 Slides

    • Weekly Lesson Quality Survey
  • 6

    Module 6 - Risk Control Measures - The Hierarchy of Controls

    • Module 6 - Risk Control Measures

    • Risk Reduction Techniques

    • Step 1: Inherently Safe Design

    • Step 2: Engineering Controls

    • Barrier Guards

    • Fixed Guards

    • Openings in Guards

    • Adjustable Guards

    • Self Adjusting Guards

    • Movable Guards

    • Guard Locking

    • Trapped Key Systems

    • Step 3: Information for Use

    • Step 4: Administrative Controls

    • Step 5: Personal Protective Equipment

    • Assignment #4 - Assigning Risk Controls

    • RA101-M6 Slides

    • Weekly Lesson Quality Survey
  • 7

    Module 7 - Risk Assessment Work Flow - Getting it done

    • Module 7 - RA Workflow

    • Risk Assessment Process Flow

    • Defining the Scope of the Risk Asssessment

    • Defining the Limits

    • Risk Evaluation

    • Extra Reading - TOR Tolerability of Risk from Nuclear Power Stations - UK HSE

    • Extra Reading - TOR Notes - Slavin

    • Extra Reading - Reducing Risk and Protecting People - UK HSE

    • RA101-M7 Slides

    • Weekly Lesson Quality Survey
  • 8

    Module 8 - When is a Risk Assessment needed? The WHEN, WHY, and the WHAT in the five W's

    • Module 8 - When, Why and What

    • WHEN - Integrating Risk Assessment into Design Workflow

    • WHY - The rationale for risk assessment

    • The WHAT in Risk Assessment

    • Quality control in safety and risk analyses - Suokas, Rouhiainen - 1989

    • RA101-M8 Slides

    • Weekly Lesson Quality Survey
  • 9

    Module 9 - Risk Assessment Teams - The WHO in the five W's

    • Module 9 - The WHO in the Five W's

    • The WHO in risk assessment

    • Factsheet 80 - Risk assessment - roles and responsibilities

    • RA101-M9 Slides

    • Weekly Lesson Quality Survey
  • 10

    Module 10 - How to conduct a risk assessment

    • Module 10 - How to Conduct a Risk Assessment

    • Conducting the Assessment

    • Conducting Early Assessments - Krauss, Frankfurth

    • Spatial Safety Assessment Presentation - Krauss, Frankfurth

    • Enhancing Safety Culture Through Effective Communication

    • Communicating and consulting about risk - HB327-2010

    • RA101-M10 Slides

    • Weekly Lesson Quality Survey
  • 11

    Module 11 - Risk Assessment Documentation

    • Module 11 - Risk Assessment Documentation

    • Risk Assessment Documentation

    • RA101-M11 Slides

    • Weekly Lesson Quality Survey
  • 12

    Module 12 - Risk Assessment Outcomes

    • Module 12 - Risk Assessment Outcomes

    • Risk Assessment Outcomes

    • RA101-M12 Slides

    • Weekly Lesson Quality Survey
  • 13

    Examination

    • Final Exam
  • 14

    Student References and Reading Material

    • Suggested Reading List

    • Statistics and the Theory of Measurement

    • RG-597 - Machine safety - Preventing mechanical hazards - Fixed guards and safety distances

    • R-684 Experimental Analysis of Tools Used for Estimating Risk Associated with Industrial Machines.

    • CSA Z434 Risk Assessment White Paper

    • Steel System Origin - Risk Estimation by Chris Steel, 1990

    • hsl06117 - Underlying causes of accidents

    • The Origins of Modern Risk Assessment - "Mathematical Evaluation for Controlling Hazards", W. T. Fine, 1971

    • Machinery Risk Assessment for Risk Reduction - Etherton et al. 2001

    • Analysis and prevention of serious and fatal accidents related to moving parts of machinery - Chinniah 2015